I need a charted drawing with 5 different configurations of a part. I cannot figure out how to get the dimensions from the configuration model into the table cells.

In the table shown below, all cells have text (not dimensions) to help show what I want to do. The dimensions in the part view are drawing dimensions with the value manual typed to be “A” or “B”.

I need the values in the table to change if I change the dimensions in the model configurations. How do I get the correct values in the table? Drag and drop? Copy and Paste? Manually type the full path for each one?

1. Activate the design table. Click on the cell where you have the "A" in your screenshot to make it active.

2. Go to your FM Design Tree and click on the feature to expose the dimensions in the graphics area of your monitor. Doublle-lick on dimension "A". That will put the dimension name in the cell where you have the "A". It will say something like D2@Sketch1.

In this example I'm using a general table. I haven't worked a lot with tables in drawings but in the past I could never make a design table (for modeling) look good by in a drawing. In SW2015 the option for inserting a design table into a drawing is grayed out. Might be a bug unless it is only happening to me.

Your example table in your first post is exactly what design tables are for. They are not broken in SW 2015. I'd give them another shot if I were you. It's always some work to learn something new up front, but usually ends up paying off.

Glenn & Kelvin, Do both your suggestions require a separate model view to be in the drawing for every model configuration? I have other charted drawings that will need dozens of configurations. Does that mean I need dozens of model configuration views to get those dimensions into the table? Where do I put those views - off to the side so they don't print?

The directions Kelvin and I gave you were for creating an Excel-based design table in the part file to control the different configurations. When you get to the drawing, insert one view of the part, click on it so it's active, then go to Insert > Tables > Design Table to insert this table into the drawing. You don't need to insert each configuration, and after inserting the table you can hide the drawing view (Right-click, > Hide) if you don't want it showing.

If the option for inserting a Design Table was grayed out then you might have not had the drawing view active. That's required.

Do both your suggestions require a separate model view to be in the drawing for every model configuration? I have other charted drawings that will need dozens of configurations. Does that mean I need dozens of model configuration views to get those dimensions into the table? Where do I put those views - off to the side so they don't print?

I was hoping for drawing table improvements in 2015 but now I see that it hasn't happened. Unless I've missed something design tables inserted into drawings are essentially pictures of the model design table. WYSIWYG with no control over formatting anything.

In my case it is impossible to have a model design table look exactly like the table needed in the drawing. I can't be hiding and unhiding columns and rows or other changes all the time in the model design table just to satisfy the drawing. I often need 8 place decimal display in the model for validation but that same column may only need 3 place decimal in the drawing. There are lots of other conflicts like these.

This is why I'm looking into a general table with linked values in the cells. My 5 configuration example is just to explain what I'm trying to do. My real goal is for charted drawings with lots of configurations. I can't be the only one who thinks OLE design tables are useless in drawings. How have others approached this problem with charted drawings containing many rows and columns of linked data?

M. B., did you ever get a good response to your question. In my opinion, the "correct answer" above is useless. I am trying to do the same thing in SW 2017 as you mention in your original post. I am using a DT, but my drawing has multiple pages and want to show different subsets of data on each page. Is Solidworks even capable of doing this? After much scouring of forums and other resources, I am about to give up. - Carlos